As the seasons change from summer to fall, large numbers of birds have been migrating south.

Jefferson Bird Expert Matt Wetrich says people might be seeing groups of several species of black birds flying together in huge numbers, as they move south for the winter. Wetrich points out another common bird that is on the move now is the species with the largest swing span found in Iowa, the American White Pelican, with a ten-foot swing span. He illustrates how Jester Park near Saylorville Lake plays a role for pelicans to have a break as they migrate south.

“We talk about that being a globally significant area for the number of pelicans that will utilize Jester Park on their way south. So a lot of these pelicans are nesting up in the Dakotas, that’s where they spend the summer, and have babies, and raise families. And then, we’re still pretty far north on their route, so it’s really important staging area there. And the same thing happens for Dunbar Slough, it’s just not as big so you don’t see as big of numbers. So any of these areas that provide an important stop over on their travels is really important.”       

Wetrich explains other kinds of birds that are traveling now will follow swarms of this type of insect.

“And you’ll see birds actually traveling with these swarming dragonflies like kestrels or Eastern king birds. Those kind of larger insect eating birds like that. So its go, you know a meal on the way. There’s a small handful of dragonflies that do migrate and so you’ll see predatory birds traveling with them.”  

Wetrich urges everyone to keep watching the sky as more and more birds migrate south, especially when there are winds from the north. He adds that more birds will travel then because they use the northern winds to glade more and not have to move their wings as much.